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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Frankie gender neutral?

45 replies

Icannotdecideaboyname · 06/02/2023 19:25

DP favourite name is Frankie but for a boy.
I have expressed concerns that it is a girls name to me and should go for Frank on BC and Frankie day to day whilst he is young. DP says Frank is too harsh for a tiny baby

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user1492757084 · 09/02/2023 17:03

Frankie is fine for both. However, I think it is becoming more popular as a girls' name. For that reason I would name him Francis on BC and call him Frankie for as long as he wishes. (His preference might change as he grows) As a man he might love to be called Francis or Frank, or Frankie.

xprincessxjanetx · 07/02/2023 20:35

Yes but for a girl I would use Francesca and nn Frankie.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 07/02/2023 12:45

DP says Frank is too harsh for a tiny baby

I'm sure you can see the obvious flaw in your husband's argument here. He'll be a baby for a millisecond.

LaffinCow · 07/02/2023 12:38

Please don't give him a nickname as a proper name.
Frankie is girly to me.
Name him Francis with nickname Franky.

MajorCarolDanvers · 07/02/2023 12:33

Frank for BC and then call him whatever cutesy name you want.

But give your adult son the option of having a grown up name if he wants.

WinterFoxes · 07/02/2023 12:31

How about Francis on the BC (lovely, underused boy's name)

I think of it as unisex. All the Frankies I know happen to be girls but Frankie Valli is pretty famous still. I love the name for boys or girls.

Snugglemonkey · 07/02/2023 12:28

It is unisex. I think it is a complete name if you want it to be. He could use Frank if he wanted to but I am Irish and live in Scotland, there are plenty of men called Frankie. Francis is often shortened to Frannie (yes, for men).

RuthW · 07/02/2023 12:17

Francis is best on bc

Frankie is unisex

eatdrinkandbemerry · 07/02/2023 12:00

I know boys and girls named Frankie.
But to me it's a little kid name and needs a proper name for when they are older

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 07/02/2023 12:00

65th most popular boys’ name and 111th most popular girls’ name apparently.

So well used for both I would say.

maddy68 · 07/02/2023 11:57

Yes. I have had boys and girls in my class called Frankie it's lovely

goingoinggonee · 07/02/2023 11:52

Yes totally GN

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 07/02/2023 09:01

The only one I know irl is a girl but tbh I don't love it on girls, prefer Frankie for boys. It's truly gender neutral imo.

But Frank or Francis on BC for sure! I actually think Frank is quite cool.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/02/2023 08:10

I only know boy Frankies so I'd say it's fine on a boy or girl. And they are full name Frankies too.

inappropriateraspberry · 07/02/2023 08:07

It's more a boys name to me. I know one and he's Frankie on the birth certificate. He could always shorten it to Frank when he's older if her wants. I knew a Fran - short for Francis- always saw that as a girl's name, but it suited him.

Beeb00p · 07/02/2023 08:05

I actually think this is one of the few names which is truly gender neutral.

I think Frankie is fine for a boy. In the age of Freddie, Alfie, Archie etc it would not stand out at all as not being a proper name. Frank sounds quite dated and surely the ‘proper’ name would be Francis anyway

Twizbe · 07/02/2023 07:59

@Bostonbullsmumma I have a long name on my BC but go by a much shorter name every day. I don't think I ever had to correct anyone at school or at least I don't remember it ever being an issue.

I like using my formal name. It's nice to have it there. I was asked recently if I wanted my formal or short name on a certificate. I said formal of course, it's my name and I love it. I just don't use it day to day.

At my son's school he is registered as James but all the teachers know he is known as Jimmy (helps as there is another James in his class)

PokemonPasta · 07/02/2023 07:55

My DDs class has Frankie-girl and Frankie-boy, so I'd say gender neutral but too popular.

Mumuser124 · 07/02/2023 07:55

I would consider Frankie to be a girls name.

SoupDragon · 07/02/2023 07:51

I imagine at school they will, every year, have to correct the teacher 'yep I'm Francis/ Frances but known as Frankie' and thought the rest of the lives if they want to be Frankie!

Millions of people are known by a shortening of their name. It isn't unusual.

DaveSpud · 07/02/2023 07:48

Bostonbullsmumma · 06/02/2023 20:51

I ask this as a genuine question- what's the point in using a different name on the BC If they will always be Frankie? I imagine at school they will, every year, have to correct the teacher 'yep I'm Francis/ Frances but known as Frankie' and thought the rest of the lives if they want to be Frankie! And what's not sensible about it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have a Frankie (boy) - it’s very popular where I live for both boys and girls… none are known any different on their BC.

Show quote history

I agree with this. I know a fair few Frankies of both genders. It is their full name.

You'll get folk on here telling you that they need to have options. I personally don't get the whole options thing, I have a name that generally doesn't get shortened and I've managed in life pretty well.

WoolyMammoth55 · 06/02/2023 20:57

I know 2 Frankie's, both girls who are Francesca on their BC.

I think it's fine for a boy but wouldn't use that on the BC personally.

My reasoning: I always think of when the DC is in their 30s, in a job interview - if they LOVE their nn they can always use it, but if they feel embarrassed by it or that it's too informal, then it's good parenting to give them an option for use in formal grown-up situations.

[Side bar: Archie on the BC is also crap for this, IMHO!]

Bostonbullsmumma · 06/02/2023 20:51

YourWinter · 06/02/2023 19:48

FFS give the child a sensible adult name, they’re grown-up for a lot longer than they’re kids.

Frank or Francesca, you can call it Frankie for the rest of your life but don’t put that on the birth certificate.

I ask this as a genuine question- what's the point in using a different name on the BC If they will always be Frankie? I imagine at school they will, every year, have to correct the teacher 'yep I'm Francis/ Frances but known as Frankie' and thought the rest of the lives if they want to be Frankie! And what's not sensible about it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have a Frankie (boy) - it’s very popular where I live for both boys and girls… none are known any different on their BC.

BakewellGin1 · 06/02/2023 20:46

I know three male Franky/Frankie and one female..
Female is Francesca
All of the males and just Franky/Frankie plus middle name

Teacakexo · 06/02/2023 20:45

Definitely unisex, my nephew is named Frankie